AAA: July 4th Traffic To Reach Decade High Number

WASHINGTON (WUSA) -- Ahead of its official July 4th travel forecast, AAA says that 42.3 million Americans will venture 50 miles or more from home during the Independence Day holiday weekend. According to AAA, that figure is a 4.9 percent increase over the 40.3 million people who traveled last year and "will tie the past decade's previous high mark set in 2007."

Independence Day is on a Wednesday this year and according to AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Lon Anderson that "provides the option of including a weekend and two week days on either side of the actual holiday" for traveling.

AAA says 54 percent of people who responded to a survey plan to begin their trip before the start of the work week which includes July 4. Here's the breakdown from AAA of the days people will start their travel:

25 percent - Friday, June 29.

16 percent - Saturday, June 30.

13 percent - Sunday, July 1.

11 percent - Monday, July 2.

19 percent - Tuesday, July 3.

16 percent - Wednesday, July 4.

AAA also says that approximately 35.5 million people plan to travel by car and a little more than 3.2 million travelers will travel by plane. The remaining travelers are expected to use other modes of transportation, including rail, bus and cruise ship.

According to the survey, Americans expect to travel an average distance of 723 miles. The Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as July 3 to July 8.